Decisions are made by those who show up.

Two years ago, during the gubernatorial elections, I took Darren to our polling place. There, he registered and voted for the very first time.

I wonder how much longer same-day registration will still be a possibility in Minnesota. Or in any of the other states where it’s allowed.

Regardless, I was proud of Darren for finally taking the time to exercise his right to vote. I admit I was also proud of myself for convincing him to do it. He… may have written my name in as his choice for governor, but he did make legitimate choices in the other categories, so we’ll call it a win.

I love voting. I was so excited for my first election, and I’ve voted in every one since.

This election cycle has been an emotional one. For me, that’s largely due to the proposed marriage amendment that’s on Minnesota’s ballot today. Maine, Maryland, and Washington all have marriage -related initiatives on theirs as well.

I had a pretty long diatribe all typed up, but it’s nothing new. The gist is that I’m angry about this. Never mind that in Minnesota, it’s not even about illegal versus legal. We’re not even there yet. But the fact still remains: those who vote YES today are opposed to marriage equality. And I just don’t get it.

Contrary to some apparent beliefs, marriage is in fact a civil right. And I have actual friends who want to deny that right to fellow Americans. To their own friends. Some people try to make religious arguments, others seem to think that family values are at stake, or maybe both. These arguments are so flawed and so, sohurtful. It makes me see red. It makes me ashamed to call them my friends. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it here: everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I’m entitled to my opinion that theirs is shitty.

Tonight, after we get home from work, my husband and I are walking the one block to our polling place. We’ll choose our candidates, vote on some referendums, make our choice regarding voter ID (for the record, I’m a no), and then we’ll vote NO on the marriage amendment. Because we hope that some day we’ll be able to stand next to each our friends – just like they did for us – and support them in their legal marriages to the people they love.